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Spring Festival Boosts Domestic Consumption and Heats Up Chinese Retail

Written by Sara Aquino
Published on 21/02/2026 at 23:39
Updated on 21/02/2026 at 23:40
Com subsídios governamentais, o Festival acelera o consumo interno, fortalece o varejo e eleva o turismo doméstico em todo o país.
Foto: IA
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With Government Subsidies, The Festival Accelerates Internal Consumption, Strengthens Retail And Boosts Domestic Tourism Across The Country.

China is experiencing a strong rise in internal consumption during the Spring Festival, officially celebrated from February 17, with a nine-day holiday throughout the country.

Millions of consumers flock to malls, restaurants, and tourist destinations, primarily driven by government subsidies and the traditional shopping spirit of the Lunar New Year.

This movement is already boosting Chinese retail sales, heating up domestic tourism, and reinforcing the government’s strategy to stimulate the economy through the internal market.

According to the state news agency Xinhua, during the first four days of the holiday, daily average sales in the main retail and food sectors grew by 8.6% compared to the same period last year.

Thus, the numbers indicate a consistent recovery in the appetite of Chinese consumers.

Spring Festival Strengthens Internal Consumption In The First Days

The impact of the Spring Festival appears quickly in economic indicators.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, traffic and revenue in 78 strategic commercial streets and districts rose by 4.5% and 4.8%, respectively, just in the first three days.

Additionally, local newspapers report crowded restaurants and shopping centers with heavy foot traffic.

This scenario demonstrates how internal consumption has become a key player in sustaining the Chinese economy.

Although the official celebrations began on February 17, the intense flow of consumers started two days earlier.

Therefore, the effect of the holiday was already being felt even before the official opening of the festivities.

Chinese Retail Registers Growth With Technology And New Habits

Chinese retail also stands out due to changes in purchasing profiles.

According to Xinhua, the current wave of spending combines tradition and innovation, with a strong demand for smart devices.

Sales of wearable devices grew by 19.7% in the first three days of the holiday, year-on-year.

Smart glasses more than doubled in sales, while smart glucose monitors registered a nearly 50% increase.

This movement illustrates how the Chinese consumer respects the traditions of the Spring Festival while simultaneously incorporating new technologies into their daily lives.

Thus, digital commerce and major online platforms are gaining prominence.

Domestic Tourism Grows During The Spring Festival

Domestic tourism also shows robust numbers this Spring Festival.

On major digital platforms, travel-related spending grew by 4.5% compared to the previous year.

One of the highlights was the 26% increase in car rental bookings during the first three days of the holiday.

This data indicates a greater preference for independent travel, especially for family trips.

In the transport sector, projections indicate that car trips are expected to grow by 10.8% year-on-year, reaching 268.75 million just on Sunday.

Meanwhile, rail and air travel are expected to advance by 4.3% and 6.4%, respectively.

In the meantime, the National Immigration Administration estimates that the daily traffic of entering and leaving the country will reach an average of 2.05 million passengers during the holiday, an increase of 14.1% compared to last year. 

Government Subsidies Drive Internal Consumption

One of the main drivers of this advancement in internal consumption are the government subsidies linked to the national consumer goods exchange program.

The initiative encourages the replacement of old products with new ones, directly stimulating the market.

By February 18, nearly 28.4 million consumers had received subsidies this year.

The program has already generated approximately 196.39 billion yuan in sales.

The exchange of vehicles represents a significant portion of this amount, totaling 100.23 billion yuan.

Thus, the automotive sector stands out as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the stimulus policy.

Hainan And The Regional Impact On Chinese Retail

In the island province of Hainan, an important hub for duty-free shopping, duty-free sales reached 970 million yuan — around US$ 140 million.

This value represents a growth of 15.8% compared to the same period last year.

This result reinforces the strategic role of regional Chinese retail in strengthening internal consumption during the Spring Festival.

Additionally, it highlights how local policies and tax incentives help to amplify economic gains.

Cinema And Entertainment Follow Spring Festival Surge

The entertainment sector also keeps pace with the accelerated rhythm of the holiday.

Box office receipts in cinemas during the Spring Festival of 2026, including pre-sales, surpassed 1 billion yuan (around US$ 144 million) by Tuesday morning, just three days after the holiday began.

This performance shows that the increase in internal consumption goes beyond traditional purchases. Culture, leisure, and experiences gain space in family budgets. 

Spring Festival Consolidates China’s Economic Strategy

The performance of the Spring Festival this year reinforces China’s strategy to stimulate growth through the internal market.

By encouraging consumption through government subsidies, the country strengthens Chinese retail, boosts domestic tourism, and expands income circulation.

Therefore, more than just a traditional celebration, the holiday is consolidating as an important economic thermometer.

The initial numbers indicate that the bet on strengthening internal consumption continues to yield concrete results for the world’s second-largest economy.

See more at: Consumption Fever (With Incentives) In China Marks The Spring Festival

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Sara Aquino

Farmacêutica e Redatora. Escrevo sobre Empregos, Geopolítica, Economia, Ciência, Tecnologia e Energia.

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